May 18, 2008
Battle of the Bluegrass Modified 8th Annual Mod Squad Bash to Joey Kramer at Bluegrass Speedway 

Bardstown, KY-May 17, 2008- The Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Open Wheel Modified division presented by Graphic Impressions contested its third event of 2008 on Saturday evening at the David and Anita Ferrell promoted Bluegrass Speedway and Joey Kramer of Hanover, IN scored his second series win of the ’08 Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Modified division season. 

Kramer’s victory was his 15th series checkered flag and came behind the wheel of the Claudette Kramer owned, FOX Custom Cabinets/Wild’s Restoration Service/Larry’s Truck Service/Hill’s Historic Painting/Bright Beginnings Child Care/SuperATV.com sponsored #77 Lightning Chassis, Bullock Race Engines by Kramer powered machine.  Kramer’s winning entry also receives product support from PBM Performance Products, NAPA, AFCO Racing Products, and Valvoline. 

Brandon Green of Walton, KY would take second in the Complete Car Care/Klassic Lawncare Bandit Race Cars entry, with Jason Wheatley of Loretto, KY claiming third in the B&W Metals/Rosewood Bar and Grill Hughes Race Cars machine.  Robbie Gullion of Charlestown, IN would come home fourth in the Dixon Racing Supply/Gilmore Construction Lightning Chassis, while J.T. Ayers of New Haven, KY would complete the top five in his After Hours Body Shop/J&L Repair Bandit Race Cars mount.  

The start of the 25 lap, $1,500 to win Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series A-Main would see Tim York take the initial race lead, with Joey Kramer going to second, followed by Don Adams, Randy Turpin, and Skylar Marlar.  Caution would fly on lap 3 for a backchute spin involving Kelly Warren and Freddy Garmon.  The restart would also be unsuccessful as fourth place Turpin looped his mount in turn four, collecting Mick Sansom, Rocky Wilson, and Robbie Gullion, who spun to avoid the incident.  The next attempted restart would also be void when Jeff Johnson did a 360 degree spin in turn four, with Casey Payton spinning to avoid Johnson.  Once back under green, York and Kramer would set a torrid pace at the front, with Jason Wheatley making his way into the top five and taking fourth from Marlar on lap 5.  With York and Kramer pulling away from the field, Wheatley would take third from Adams on lap 7, only to lose it back to Adams on lap 8, but regaining it again on lap 9.   

By lap 10, York has Kramer nipping at his heels for the lead, while Brandon Green had made his way into the top five on the same circuit, taking fourth from Adams on lap 11.  As the leaders began working slower traffic, Kramer would make his move on lap 14 as grab the top spot with a turn two slidejob, while Wheatley and Green would battle for third side-by-side on lap 15.  Green would take second on lap 17, while Gullion, Ayers, and 22nd starting Kelly Warren battled for fourth.     

Kramer would then encounter an anxious moment on lap 19 when Kevin Bryant smacked the concrete wall in turn three directly in front of the leader, with Kramer clipping the car of Bryant and suffering severe right-rear quarter panel damage.  During the caution to remove Bryant’s disabled mount, second place running York would pull to the infield with mechanical issues on his machine.  The restart would see Wheatley slidejob past Green, only to see Green drive back under Wheatley in turn three to reclaim second, as the final caution of the event flew on lap 20 for a spin by Casey Payton.   

The final circuits would see Kramer drive away from the field, with Green putting some distance on Wheatley for second, while Ayers, Gullion, and Warren battling three-wide on laps 22 and 23 for the fourth slot.  At the checkered flag, it would be Kramer, Green, and Wheatley, followed by Gullion and Ayers.  The remainder of the top ten would be Warren, Adams, Dion Benningfield, Mick Sansom, and Johnny Lee. 

In preliminary action, Joey Kramer was top qualifier among 25 entries with a new Bluegrass Speedway Modified track qualifying record at 15.997 seconds.  Qualifying heat race events were won by Don Adams, Tim York, and Randy Turpin. 

The next events for the Modified division of the Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series will take place on Friday May 23 at the Larry Yantz promoted Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY and at the Mark and Tommy Trimble promoted Richmond Raceway in Richmond, KY on Saturday may 24.  Both events will pay $1,500 to win. 

The Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series sanctions regional Open Wheel Modified events at tracks in Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee.  For more information about America’s most competitive regional racing series, visit the series webpage on the world wide web at www.battleofthebluegrass.com or call the series office at (859) 762-1606 or (502) 931-5068. 

Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Modified Division

SUMMARY-Bluegrass Speedway-Bardstown, KY-May 17, 2008 

Top Qualifier- Joey Kramer 15.997 (New Track Record)

1st Heat- Don Adams, Joey Kramer, Brandon Green, Robbie Gullion, Joe Mattingly, J.T. Ayers, Jeff Stith, Shawn Tolson (DNS- Kevin Copher)

2nd Heat- Tim York, Skylar Marlar, Josh Lucas, Kevin Bryant, Freddie Garmon, Johnny Lee, Jeff Johnson (DNS- Timmy Glazer)

3rd Heat- Randy Turpin, Jason Wheatley, Dion Benningfield, Mick Sansom, Rocky Wilson, Casey Payton, Vernon Soeder, Kelly Warren

A-Main:  Joey Kramer, Brandon Green, Jason Wheatley, Robbie Gullion, J.T. Ayers, Kelly Warren, Don Adams, Dion Benningfield, Mick Sansom, Johnny Lee, Jeff Stith, Shawn Tolson, Casey Payton, Tim York, Kevin Bryant, Jeff Johnson, Skylar Marlar, Randy Turpin, Timmy Glazer, Rocky Wilson, Freddie Garmon (DNS- Josh Lucas, Joe Mattingly, Kevin Copher, Vernon Soeder)

Entries- 25

Lap Leaders- 2 (York 1-13, Kramer 14-25)

Cautions- 5 (Lap 3, 3, 3, 19, 20)

Red Flags- None

Hard Charger- Kelly Warren (started 22nd-finished 6th-advanced 16 positions) 

Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Modified Division Point Standings (after May 17)

1. Joey Kramer(Hanover, IN)- 752

2. Kelly Warren(Columbia, KY)- 673

3. Don Adams(London, KY)- 658

4. Mick Sansom(Salt Rock, WV)- 564

5. Skylar Marlar(Winfield, TN)- 527

6. Shawn Tolson(Walton, KY)- 525 ®

7. Brandon Green(Walton, KY)- 389

8. Tim York(Greensburg, KY)- 378

9. Robbie Gullion(Charlestown, IN)- 368 ®

10. Jeff Johnson(Junction City, KY)- 323

Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Open Wheel Modified Division Upcoming Schedule of Events:

May 23- Ponderosa Speedway (Junction City, KY)- 4th Annual Summer Shootout- $1,500 to win

May 24- Richmond Raceway (Richmond, KY)- $1,500 to win

June 7- Tazewell Speedway (Tazewell, TN)- $2,000 to win

June 13- Moler Raceway Park (Williamsburg, OH)- $1,500 to win

June 14- 201 Speedway (Sitka, KY)- $1,500 to win 

2008 Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Open Wheel Modified Division Sponsors: 

Max Brake- “Official Trailer Brakes” of the Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Modified Division

CarbonX- “Official Flame Shielding Fabric” of the Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Modified Division

Health PMO- “Official Health Care Company” of the Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Modified Division

Graphic Impressions- Presenting Sponsor and “Official Souvenir and Merchandise Vendor” of the Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Modified Division

Bob Hook Chevrolet of Louisville- “Official Auto Dealership” of the Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Modified Division 

Other Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Open Wheel Modified Division Supporters Include: American Race Tires, Cruise with the Champions, Curtis Signs, Drive Smart Kentucky, DT52 Photos, Hoosier Race Tires, Kentucky’s Best Racing, PPM Racing Products, Racing Optics, Trailer Parts and Service, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply